EMERITUS SENIOR LIVING

"Caregiver Tips for Dining & Hydration"

Caregiver Tips for Dining & Hydration:

Mealtime can be challenging for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or memory loss due to poor depth perception and physical changes. Listed below are some tips to help make meal times more enjoyable.

• Use contrasting colored plates and linens. People with Alzheimer’s dementia suffer from depth perception problems.
• Know their likes and dislikes.
• Provide adaptive equipment for independent eating such as scooped plates, large handled silverware, and cups with lids.
• To maintain independence, provide finger foods for loved ones who can no longer use silverware or for those that pace and wander.
• Serve foods in edible containers such as pita bread, ice cream cones or taco shells.
• Ensure adequate lighting in all dining areas.
• Serve small portions frequently throughout the day. Large portions can be overwhelming which can prevent them from eating any of it.
• Minimize distractions during meal times.
• Cue your loved one by sitting with them during meals to mirror your actions.
• Serve meals around the same time every day.
• Serve hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
• Have the meal ready to serve prior to sitting your loved one at the table.
• Cut up foods prior to serving.
• Let the person with Alzheimer’s disease help set the table and prepare the meal.
• Missing or broken teeth can make it difficult to chew. Try introducing soft foods.
• Offer plenty of liquids with the meal to aide in digestion.
• Flavor water with lemon or orange slices.
• Keep fluids within easy reach.
• Use travel cups to prevent spills.
• Be mindful of very cold fluids. This can be uncomfortable to loved ones with broken or chipped teeth.
• Add additional fluids by serving Jell-O, soup, pudding, popsicles, smoothies or “mocktails.”

Back to Caregiver Tips for more tips!

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